Air Quality Alert Issued Today For West Rapid City

An air quality alert has been issued today from noon to 7 p.m. for dust for Rapid City west of The Gap. (City File Photo/Darrell Shoemaker)

AIR QUALITY ALERT ISSUED TODAY

FOR WEST RAPID CITY

Alert effective from Noon to 7 p.m.

RAPID CITY, SD--The South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources has issued an air quality alert for dust for Rapid City, west of The Gap, effective noon until 7 p.m. this evening. The alert is issued by the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources and relayed by the National Weather Service.

The City's Air Quality Office recommends the elderly, young and anyone with respiratory problems to avoid excessive physical exertion and exposure to the outside air during the alert. A cold front will move through the area around midday and northwest winds are expected to increase to 20 to 30 miles per hour with gusts to around 40 miles per hour. Winds will diminish after sunset.

The gusty winds will suspend fine dust in the air over west Rapid City, producing poor air quality.

Voluntary actions to reduce dust pollution include ceasing or reducing the manipulation of soil in construction, industrial and agricultural activities, and increase the use of pollution controls for soil stabilization, waste pits, stock piles and construction sites.